RAID OF THE 
CONFEDERATE CAVALRY 

THROUGH CENTRAL TENNESSEE 

IN OCTOBER, 1863 
COMMANDED BY GENERAL JOSEPH WHEELER. 



A PAPER READ BEFORE 



THE OHIO COMMANDERY OF THE LOYAL LEGION 



APRIL 1, 1908 



BY 



WILLIAM L CURRY, 
Captain 1st Ohio Vol. Cavalry. 






IN EXCHANGE 
JAN 5 - 1915 






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RAID OF THE 



Confederate Cavalry Through CeiitralTennessee 

In October, 1863 
Commanded by Gen. Joseph Wheeler 



Two days after the battle of Chickamauga, fouglit September 19th 
and 20th, 18G3, the 2d Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland, com- 
manded by General George Crook, entered Chattanooga, forded the 
Tennessee River and went into bivouac opposite the town. 

The Division crossed the Tennessee to the South, some distance 
below Stevenson, Alabama, September 2d, and had been in the saddle 
continuously for twenty days. The horses were much jaded and had 
great need of shoeing and rest. The troopers were worn out, uniforms, 
arms and equipments required repairs and renovating. 

We had not seen our wagon train for a month, and the officers, not 
having a change of clothing during the campaign, were neither com- 
fortable nor presentable. 

It was hoped that we would at least get a few days rest, but we 
were doomed to disappointment, for in two days we were destined to 
start on another hard campaign, which up to that time had not had a 
parallel in the annals of the Cavalry service of that Army. 

The Division was composed of nine regiments of Cavalry and one 
Battery of Artillery. 

FIRST BRIGADE. 

Commanded by Col. Robert H. G. Minty. 
3d Indiana — Lieut. Col. Robert Klein. 
4th Michigan — Maj. Horace Gray. 
7th Pennsylvania — Lieut. Col. James S. Seibert. 
4th United States — Captain James B. Mclntyre. 
Chicago Board of Trade Battery (one section) — Capt. James H. 
Stokes. 



SECOND BRIGADE. 

Colonel EH Long commanding. 
1st Ohio Cavalry — Major Thomas J. Patton. 
8d Ohio— Lieut. Col. Charles B. Seidel. 
4th Ohio— Lieut. Col. Oliver P. Robie. 
2d Kentucky — Col. Thomas P. Nicholas. 

Chicago Board of Trade Battery (one section) — Capt. James H. 
Stokes. 

The 2d Brigade had been handled pretty roughly during the last 
days' battle of Chickamauga, having lost 136 men out of a total of 900. 

Col. Valentine Cupp, the brave commander of the 1st Ohio, had 
been killed and a number of other officers of the Brigade had been 
killed or wounded, among whom ,vas Lieutenants Neff, Cilly, and 
Henry, 4th Ohio, and Captain Zacharay and Lieutenants Griffith, 
Ayres, Calder and Brooks of the 2d Kentucky. 

Major Thomas J. Patton, familiarly called "Rough and Ready 
Tom." who was never so happy as when in the "melee," on the death 
of Col. Cupp had succeeded to the command of the 1st Ohio. In some 
of the regiments new faces were at the head of companies, squadrons 
and batallions, for not only had the ranks been decimated, but many 
officers were "hors de combat." 

There was many a trooper who longed to see the old officers rid- 
ing at the head of their commands, but the young leaders commanding 
had all been tried in the fire of battle and had not been found wanting 
— all as true as steel. 

The 1st Brigade 2d Cavalry Division, commanded by Col. R. G. 
Minty, fought on the extreme left during the battle of Chickamauga 
and were hotly engaged. Colonel Minty, in his report, states that the 
loss in the brigade during the campaign was less than one hundred. 

The situation was critical, as rations, ammunition and all kinds of 
supplies were short, and it was a question whether Rosecrans could 
hold Chattanooga. 

The enemy commanded the main part of the river road from 
Bridgeport to Chattanooga, and all supplies had to be hauled by wagon 
over a long rough route through the Sequatchie Valley and across 
VValden's Ridge. Rosecrans, himself, a discrete and wily strategis:, 
knew his astute antagonist well and fully realized that Bragg would 



make a supreme effort to cut off the "Cracker line" of the Union Army 
at any sacrifice. 

Rosecrans, anticipating a Cavalry raid on his line of supplies, 
made rapid disposition of his Cavalry to meet and frustrate the enemy, 
should such an expedition be undertaken. General Joseph Wheeler, 
Commander of General Bragg's Cavalry Corps^ was ordered to equip 
liis command for such an expedition and he rapidly concentrated all 
his available Cavalry, being re-inforced by a division of General For- 
est's command. 

General Rosecrans, through General George H. Thomas, who had 
charge of the Secret Service of the Army of the Cumberland, was kept 
informed of these movements of the enemy. To General Ed. McCook, 
commanding the 1st Cavalry Division, was assigned the duty of guard- 
ing the river below Chattanooga toward Bridgeport. 

General Crook, commanding the 2d Division, was ordered to patrol 
and guard the river to the northeast a^id resist any effort of the enemy 
to force a crossing, as it was thought the movement would be made by 
the left flank of our army. 

At dawn, September 26th, "boots and saddles" were sounded, and 
with "five days' rations in their haversacks/' the 2d Cavalry Division, 
with blast of bugles and guidons fluttering in the balmy September 
breeze, left their bivouac near Chattanooga armed and equipped and 
ready to scout, raid or fight. 

On the 28th we arrived at Washington, a little cross road town 
about 50 miles from Chattanooga and three miles distant from the Ten- 
nessee River. Here General Crook established his headquarters and 
distributed his command along the river near the many fords that could 
be easily crossed by Cavalry at this season of the year. 

The country was very rough near the river with bluffs, hills and 
ravineSj and in many places heavily timbered. The patrol duty was 
very laborious and difficult, and the fords thus screened, could be easily 
crossed by the enemy unobserved during the night time. Wheeler's 
forces made several feints which were intercepted by our Cavalry, but 
on the night of the 29th, they forced a crossing at Cotton Port, three 
miles from Washington. 

This ford was guarded by a batallion of the 1st Ohio, commanded 
by Major J. W. Scott^ who made a strong resistance, but the enemy 
opened up with a battery and he was compelled to fall back with a loss 



6 

of about 20 men wounded and taken prisoners, including Captain Conn, 
severely wounded. 

The rebels surrounded a picket post of the 1st Ohio and sent in a 
flag of truce, demanding their surrender, but instead of surrendering, 
they made a dash through the lines and made their escape. 

The batallion in which I commanded a company of the 1st Ohio 
was stationed at a ford about three miles north of Cotton Port where 
the principal part of Wheeler's command crossed. On hearing the 
artillery firing the morning of the 30th, we mounted and prepared to 
resist an attack which was momentarily expected at the ford we were 
guarding. In a few minutes a staff officer dashed up with orders for 
the batallion to report at Washington at once. 

We moved out at a gallop and in half an hour we arrived at Di- 
vision headquarters. General Crook, surrounded by his staff, was 
mounted and all was excitement. Crook was giving orders to his 
Brigade Commanders, Staff Officers and Orderlies were galloping off 
on the several roads carrying orders. The artillery was ready for 
action — companies, batallions and regiments were swinging into line, 
and horses, as well as officers and troopers, seemed to imbibe of the 
general feeling that there was fight in the air. There was a thrill in 
that hour of preparation and concentration of troops that is indelibly 
stamped on the memory of every survivor of Crook's Cavalry Division, 
who rode across the State of Tennessee in pursuit of Wheeler's bold 
raiders. 

As soon as Wheeler's command crossed the river they moved 
rapidly down the valley toward Chattanooga. Crook concentrated his 
scattered forces as rapidly as possible and started in pursuit. We only 
marched about ten miles, passing Smith's Cross Roads on the 30th and 
bivouacked for the night in a drenching rain which continued until 
morning. 

On the morning of October 1st, we took the pass up Raccoon 
Mountain, reaching the top of the mountain at dusk and bivouacked 
with rain pouring in torrents all night. Colonel Miller, commanding 
a brigade of mounted infantry, did not reach the crest of the mountain 
until the morning of the 2d, and that morning we descended the moun- 
tain into the Sequatchie Valley at Pitts' Cross Roads. At this time the 
enemy had from twelve to fourteen hours the start of Crook's Division. 
Wheeler had divided forces, a division crossing the Cumberland Moun- 



tains by way of Pikeville, while the balance of his command marched 
down the valley toward Dimlap and, as was afterwards learned, as- 
cended the mountain from that point. Of these movements of the 
enemy Crook kept well informed through his scouts and prisoners 
captured. 

On the afternoon of the 3d, we took Robinson's trace up the Cum- 
berland Mountains and reached the top about midnight. The pass was 
very difficult, and both men and horses were very much exhausted by 
the hard night march. We were in the saddle at day break and marched 
rapidly across the mountain, descending late in the evening. Had 
some skirmishing during the day with the enemy's rear guard, and on 
descending the mountain struck the enemy in strong force and had some 
sharp fighting, lasting about two hours and drove the enemy, which 
proved to be a brigade of Crew's Texans and Martin's Division, about 
three miles until the dense darkness prevented further pursuit. The 
loss in Crook's division was forty-six killed and wounded. Miller's 
brigade, armed with their Spencer seven shooters, had the advance and 
bore the brunt of the fight. The roar of their rapid firing guns, with 
the bright flashes, presented a magnificent scene in the darkness. No 
doubt the loss of the enemy was heavy, but could not be ascertained. 
Crook had Crew's brigade completely surrounded with dismounted 
cavalry and infantry, but darkness coming on our men could not dis- 
tinguish the enemy from our own forces and were afraid to fire when 
the enemy commenced breaking through our lines. As our men were 
under cover and the enemy in the open, if there had been another hour 
of daylight, Crook would have destroyed or captured a large part of 
Crew's brigade. 

Having left Chattanooga September 26th with five days' rations, 
and this being the seventh day out, our rations were all exhausted. As 
we halted on the mountain during the day, the men cut down many 
chestnut trees to get the chestnuts to eat. 

The next morning our breakfast consisted of about two little hard 
sour apples to the man in my own company, and we considered our- 
selves fortunate at that, as but few troopers in the command got even 
that much. One of Napoleon's maxims of war was that to get good 
fighting out of a soldier, good care must be taken of his stomach. In 
this instance the maxim of the great warrior seems to have been over- 
looked by our commander, but presume his rations was about the same 



as the balance of the command. As we had the enemy on the run, with 
a prospect of a fight every day, this kept the command in buoyant spir- 
its notwithstanding the short rations. 

Looking back after a period of forty-five years has elapsed, it 
seems almost incredible that soldiers could have stood such service, 
subsisting on such meager rations, the enemy having stripped the 
country of provisions as they advanced. 

Crook had now driven Wharton's command over two high moun- 
tain ranges, but Wheeler, with the balance of his forces under his im- 
mediate command^ had been having a hot time in the Sequatchie Val- 
ley. He had marched rapidly down the Valley and at Anderson's 
Cross-roads attacked a large wagon train hauling supplies for Rose- 
crans' Army at Chattanooga. There was from 800 to 1000 wagons and 
ambulances in the train. The light train guard of cavalry and infantry 
put up a good fight but were driven from the train into the woods by 
the overwhelming numbers of the enemy, but not until they had un- 
horsed a large number of Wheeler's troopers. Wheeler's men com- 
menced selecting out the best teams and wagons, then proceeded to kill 
many of the mules, burning the other wagons with supplies. When it 
was learned that Wheeler's forces had crossed the Tennessee and were 
marching down the Sequatchie Valley, anticipating his designs on the 
supply train. Col. Ed. McCook, commanding the 1st Cavalry Division, 
guarding the river south of Chattanooga, was ordered to move rapidly 
with his command up the A'alle}' to meet the enemy. As has already 
been stated, it had been raining heavily and the roads were almost im- 
passible for artillery in many places, so that his movements were very 
much impeded. 

On October 8d, he struck Wheeler's command at Anderson's 
Cross-roads where they were busily engaged in plundering the train, 
killing mules and burning wagons. The 1st Wisconsin and 2d Indiana 
Cavalry charged into the enemy with the saber and drove them in much 
confusion from the burning train, capturing many prisoners and re- 
leasing some of our prisoners. Wheeler rallied his men and made an 
efifort to stem the tide^ but McCook's men again charged his lines with 
saber, driving his forces rapidly across the Sequatchie Valley all the 
afternoon, although he made several inefifectual efforts to hold the 
Union forces in check. Darkness approaching, McCook waited for 



9 

the balance of the Division to join him under Mitchell, commander 
of the Cavalry Corps. 

During the night of the 2d, Wheeler pushed on rapidly, crossing 
the Cumberland Mountains in the direction of McMinnville. The 
sudden and impetuous attack of McCook so demoralized the Confeder- 
ate Cavalry that they were compelled to abandon much of their booty. 
Many of the mules and wagons with supplies were saved and a number 
of drivers and quartermaster employees came into our lines mounted 
on mules which they had cut loose from the wagons, riding bare-back 
minus hats and coats and in rather a delapidated condition. They gave 
us information of the destruction of the wagon train. When in the 
valley near Pikeville, the day of the attack on the train, we had heard 
the explosion of the shells and supposed at the time that a battle was in 
progress at Chattanooga. 

On the morning after the night fight at the foot of the Cumberland 
Mountai^is, Crook's men were in the saddle at day break and moved on 
toward McMinnville, striking the rear guard of the enemy about noon, 
charged them three or four miles, capturing many prisoners, and re- 
capturing some of our men. Captain Wm. Scott and Lieutenant A. D. 
Lieb of the 1st Ohio had both been taken prisoners while carrying 
orders for the concentration of Crook's division the day Wheeler 
crossed the river. 

Captain Scott made his escape during the night fight on the even- 
ing of the third and came into our lines. He had been under guard by 
Crew's Texans and the Captain in command became so enraged at 
Scott's language, berating the rebels and their cause in language more 
emphatic than polite, compelled Scott to walk and keep up with the 
rapid marching Cavalry column under penalty of death. 

On the morning of the fourth, Scott, who was one of the bravest 
little Irish officers in the command, secured a horse and moved out with 
the advance, swearing dire revenge. In the first charge among the pris- 
oners captured was this same Texan Captain. He was mounted on a 
large mule and was a fine looking officer. Scott at once took him in 
charge, made him dismount and as we passed them, Scott was compel- 
ling him to empty a large pair of saddle bags fastened ro the cantel of 
his saddle, filled with blue uniforms taken from the supply train in 
the valley. 

The brave Texan looked very much chagrined while the little 



10 

Irishman was looking on, taking a grim satisfaction in the proceedings. 
It is safe to say that the Texan had to take his turn at hoofing it that 
day. This is but a Httle incident showing what changes are wrought 
in the fortunes of war. 

We drove the enemy's rear guard rapidly through McMinnville and 
found that the garrison composed of about 500 new Tennessee recruits, 
commanded by Major Patterson, had surrendered with but little re- 
sistance. Major Patterson claimed that he lost about 40 men, killed, 
wounded and missing. Wheeler captured many horses and mules and 
destroyed a large amount of government stores, a train of cars, cut the 
telegraph wires, destroyed a railroad bridge over Hickory Creek, sacked 
the town, then pushed on toward Murfreesboro. 

As this was Sunday, it disturbed the good citizens of this quiet 
mountain town in their devotions, but as there were many Union citi- 
zens in the town and surrounding country, they hailed with delight the 
advance of Crook's men. General Crook states in his report that he 
learned from reliable and intelligent Union men that Wheeler had about 
6,000 men in his command, as his full force was concentrated when he 
descended the Cumberland Mountains. Crook's command numbered 
at that time about 3,500 effective men. 

We struck the enemy's rear guard about three miles from 
McMinnville and had a sharp skirmish. 

The 2d Brigade having the advance. Colonel Long, the brigade 
commander, at the head of the 2d Kentucky, made a saber charge, driv- 
ing the rear guard pell mell four or five miles, capturing many prison- 
ers. The rear guard was so hard pressed that a large force of the 
enemy halted and formed a line of battle. Crook attacked with dis- 
mounted infantry and drove them steadily back. Stokes' battery was 
also brought into action and a very pretty and exciting artillery duel 
was kept up for sometime. Captain Stokes was particularly distin- 
guished in this fight and soon knocked the Confederate battery out of 
action. The enemy left the field hurriedly and. darkness coming on, we 
bivouacked on the field for the night. As we did not have any rations, 
we laid down supperless, our heads against the roots of pine or cedar 
trees and slept as soundly from sheer exhaustion as if our heads had 
been on downy pillows, perchance to dream of the feast of chestnuts 
we had enjoyed the day before, not forgetting the luscious sour apples 
on which we breakfasted. The horses fared better than the men, as 



11 

there was abundance of corn in the coves and valleys well ripened and 
more than the horses of Wheeler's command could consume, as we 
were driving' them so rapidly, but all kinds of provisions in their line 
of march was confiscated. To have forage for his horse was a great 
comfort to the good Cavalryman, as he would fight for forage for his 
horse, and go hungry without any grumbling in the excitement of a 
raid. 

The morning of the fifth^ we mounted in "hot haste" and again 
took the enemy's trail as they had escaped from us during the night. 

Crook getting information through his scouts, that it was Wheel- 
er's intention to capture Murfreesboro, then destroy the railroad toward 
Nashville, decided to make a flank movement to thwart Wheeler's 
plans ; thereupon Crook made a rapid move to the right from Ready- 
ville, thus throwing his forces between the enemy and Nashville, com- 
pelling him to move in a southwesterly direction toward Shelbyville. 

We reached Murfreesboro about four o'clock, having marched 
upward of 40 miles. The two regiments of infantry forming the gar- 
rison, with all citizens of the town, were in Fortress Rosecrans, which 
had been constructed for the protection of the large amount of rations 
stored. 

The garrison was well prepared for the expected attack by Wheel- 
er's forces, and had the attack been made he would undoubtedly have 
been repulsed with great slaughter. The citizens were greatly alarmed 
and hailed the advance of Crook's command very cordially. Wheeler's 
men, under Martin, had made a stubborn resistance all day, forming 
dismounted along the edge of woods, streams and hills wherever there 
seemed to be any kind of screen or protection from which they could 
resist Crook's charging troops. 

After entering Murfreesboro, it was found that some of the enemy 
was hovering around the outskirts of the town toward Shelbyville, tak- 
ing observations, but evidently afraid to make an attack. A little dash 
from one of our regiments sent them scurrying ofif on the gallop, and 
we were glad to halt for a much needed rest. The garrison was so 
overjoyed that they were willing to serve the men of Crook's command 
in every possible way, and hundreds of rations were issued without 
requisitions. In fact, the men entered the Commissary Department 
and carried away hams, shoulders, bacon, hard-tack and whatever they 
cared to take while the guards looked on smiling, ofifering no objec- 



12 

tions. The officers were directed to make the best disposition possible 
for the comfort of their men, and the 2d Brigade camped in the town. 
Fires were soon blazing out on the commons and in some instances even 
in the streets. We had not had any rations for five days, and we were 
about famished. The men were cautioned not to eat too fast nor too 
much, but little regard was paid to this precaution, as fires were burn- 
ing and the men were cooking all night. Forage was issued, horses 
were unsaddled, and many lay down on the streets among their riders. 
General Crook gave imperative orders that private property must not 
be in any manner disturbed, and that he would hold the officers strictly 
accountable for any violation of the order. There was no necessity 
for a very vigilant picket during the night, as the enemy was as tired as 
our own men, and were not anxious for any more fighting, but were 
more anxious to get away from Crook's command which was pushing 
them so hard. 

The next morning, the Gth, we drew some clothing from the Post 
Quartermaster for the men who were most needy, and with well-filled 
haversacks marched about ten miles toward Shelbyville, but did not 
strike the enemy, and here General Mitchell joined Crook with the 
First Cavalry Division. That afternoon we lay in bivouac while 
Crook's scouts were busy locating the enemy. 

Although we captured many horses from the enemy, we did not 
secure a sufficient number to mount our own men whose horses had 
given out and had to be abandoned. When we left Murfreesboro, 
about 500 of Crook's men were left there dismounted. The blacksmiths 
were busy on the afternoon of the 6th shoeing horses as there had been 
but little time for shoeing since the 1st, and all the blacksmiths could 
do was to nail the shoes on without fitting. 

The morning of the 7th, we marched into Shelbyville, a beautiful 
little town situated on the banks of Duck River. There was a strong 
Union element in the town and Colonel Galbrath, who commanded a 
Union Cavalry Regiment of Tennesseeans, resided there. The Union 
forces had been in possession of the section of the State for so many 
months that business had been resumed by the merchants. It seemed 
that Wheeler's men took great delight in destroying and plundering, 
had stripped the business houses of everything and had the citizens 
terrorized when he entered the place. The prisoners captured that day 



13 

were loaded down with bolts of dress goods, muslins, ribbons and even 
many ladies' bonnets which they had to abandon with many regrets. 

The divisions of Lee and Roddy had been ordered by Bragg to 
join Wheeler, coming by way of Guntersville and New Market, Ala- 
bama, but they failed to arrive at Shelbyville as Wheeler had expected. 
Martin's Division captured a small garrison at Watrace, burning two 
or three bridges and had joined Wheeler's main force at Shelbyville. 
This was the situation on the morning of the 7th when we arrived. 

Crook's division moved out on the Farmington Road, while 
McCook moved on the Unionville Road, on the right bank of Duck 
River. Crook learning through his scouts that Davidson's division was 
in line only a few miles from Shelbyville, with his usual energy and 
eagerness for a fight, ordered the 2d division forward rapidly and about 
three miles out struck Davidson's division. The mounted infantry 
having the advance, moved to the attack mounted, opening a sharp fire 
and the enemy fell back into a wood. The infantry then dismounted 
and delivered several volleys, driving the enemy in considerable con- 
fusion. The 2d brigade was ordered to the front and, headed by Colonel 
Long, made a saber charge, driving the enemy three miles, killing and 
wounding many of them, and capturing a large number of prisoners. 
We then halted for a short time, waiting for the troopers who had 
dropped behind by reason of jaded horses, to close up, also to allow the 
guard to come up with the prisoners and let our horses blow. We halted 
perhaps twenty to thirty minutes, and during that time our men gath- 
ered 70 of the enemy's wounded from the woods, some of whom had 
saber cuts^ laid them down on a little green grass plot shaded by trees 
on one side. Here our surgeons dressed their wounds and worked 
earnestly and rapidly until we were again ordered forward. The enemy 
soon made another stand in a cedar thicket and again the infantry 
dismounted, made the attack, routing them, and the 2d brigade fol- 
lowed up with another saber charge driving them back rapidly in every 
attack. This mode of attack was kept up for fifteen miles, and during 
all of that distance we were scarcely out of sight of dead and wounded 
men, and many wounded and abandoned horses were scattered along 
the road side. There was plenty of hard fighting, but to Crook's men it 
was one continuous forward movement, for the enemy was on the run 
the greater part of the time, although they made several desperate 
efforts to hold Crook's, now wild and impetuous rough riders in check. 



14 

A short distance from Farmington, Wheeler having concentrated his 
whole command in a strong position in a dense cedar thicket, prepared 
to make a last desperate defense with his men largely dismounted. Crook 
at once made the attack with the infantry, as the cavalry could not 
operate in the thickets, except dismounted. He, therefore, decided to 
use the same tactics he had been practicing all day. The enemy opened 
with a battery at a distance of 400 yards with a raking fire of grape and 
cannister, then charged from the front and on both flanks, but were 
repulsed. The fire from their battery was terrific, the grape, cannis- 
ter and shells tearing through the thick brush sounded like a great 
tornado. 

Captain Stokes' battery was brought into action at this critical 
time, and before he could get his guns into position, the enemy turned 
their battery fire against him, killing and wounding several men and 
horses. Captain Stokes took charge of one of his guns, sighting the 
piece himself, and about the second or third shot, knocked one of the 
enemy's guns out of action by blowing up a caisson ; Crook's infantry 
dismounted, raised the Yankee Yell and charged, breaking through the 
enemy's lines, driving them in great confusion, capturing the battery 
and a large number of prisoners. 

Long's brigade was then ordered to charge, and galloping to the 
front through the lines, passed the captured battery and prisoners, but 
a short distance from the village found the roads heavily barricaded, 
manned by dismounted cavalry. 

It was now growing quite dark and we were ordered to dismount, 
but before we could make the attack on the barricades. Colonel Long 
was ordered to halt and abandon the pursuit. 

As Colonel Minty failed to reach the field with the first brigade 
until after the fighting had ceased, Crook had but Long's brigade and 
a brigade of mounted infantry. As Crook states in his report he had 
but 1,500 effective men. No other troops had been in action during the 
day, and it had been almost one continuous fight from Shelbyville to 
Farmington, a distance of 15 miles. The prisoners were rounded up 
and svirrounded by a guard. The captured battery and caissons to 
which were attached mules instead of horses, was parked in the village 
square. Then we went into bivouac, discussed the victories of the day 
over our coffee and hard-tack for a short time, cared for the wounded, 
wrapped our blankets about us, for the night was cool, and were 



15 

soon in deep slumber. It was a "red letter day" for Crook's command. 
It was "up and at them boys" all day. No time to think of thirst or 
hunger. No time to think of being tired and exhausted. It was "mount 
and dismount," then on to find the enemy and hit him another hard 
blow. We kept no count of time, the hours flew like minutes ; although 
the physical strain had been almost to the limit of endurance, it seemed 
that darkness came all too soon. A few saddles had been emtied and 
their riders were not present at "Mess" that evening, but had fallen, 
"booted and spurred," with drawn sabers and faces to the foe. 

A few years ago I met in the City of Columbus, Ohio, a Rev. 
Montgomery, President of a Presbyterian College. In the course of 
conversation he mentioned that he was born in the State of Tennessee. 
On inquiry he stated that his father lived near Farmington during the 
Civil War, and I then mentioned the battle that occurred at that village 
in the Fall of 1863. He said he had heard his father relate the story of 
the battle many times. They resided but three miles from Farmington 
and heard distinctly the rattle of musketry and roar of artillery. His 
father visited the battle ground early the next morning and assisted in 
caring for the wounded and burying the dead. His father, in telling of 
the scenes, spoke of the dead soldiers lying on the field with upturned 
faces, the drops of dew on their brows glistening in the bright October 
sun. He said this made such a deep impression upon his young mind 
that he always associated this incident with every story of battle or 
battle-field. 

Among the killed was Colonel Monroe of the 123d Illinois In- 
fantry, a brave and skillful oflficer who had rendered most efficient ser- 
vice throughout the campaign. Crook's loss in this fight was 41 killed 
and wounded. 

McCook's division, which had taken the road to the right, did not 
find any enepiy and did not have any fighting during the day. 

The next morning, the 8th, it did not take but one note of the 
reveille to bring us to our feet. At 4 o'clock, and after a hasty cup of 
coffee and a hard-tack, with little grooming of horses, we were in the 
saddle. Crook claimed in his report, that if the balance of the command 
had been on time as he expected, he would have thrown them on the 
flanks and would have "captured a large portion of Wheeler's command 
with all of his artillery and transportation." Crook made the fight with 
this small force against Wheeler's whole command, and not only cap- 



16 

tured a battery, but nearly half as many prisoners as he had soldiers in 
action. Crook had sent out his scouts during the night in all directions 
to ascertain the movements of the enemy, and learned through them 
that a large portion of the enemy had retreated on the Pulaski Road. 
We marched at once on the Pulaski Road, passing through the towns 
of Lewisburg and Connellsville. 

All day we had evidences of the complete rout of the enemy in 
abandoned baggage, broken wagons, broken down horses, with now 
and tiien a few stragglers picked up. All showing the complete demor- 
alization of Wheeler's whole command. 

Many of his wounded men were left at farm houses along the road, 
while squads were deserting his columns, scattering over the country 
in an efifort to escape. We arrived at Pulaski about sun down and just 
in time to see their rear guard galloping out of town, only firing a few 
shots. 

The First Ohio had the advance, and we galloped through the 
town, and went into bivouac about a mile from the village, on the 
Lambs Ferry road. ]\Iy own company was detailed for picket and were 
posted in a dense wood, and did not close an eye that night after our 
hard day's march. Fearing that the men, being so exhausted, might fall 
asleep, I ordered them to stretch a picket rope across the narrow road 
50 yards in advance of the videtts, so that in the event the enemy should 
make a dash on the pickets, the rope would give them a little check, 
but the night passed quietly without any demonstrations on the outposts. 
The advance of Crook's column passed the outpost early on the morn- 
ing of the 9th, and moved rapidly out on the Lambs Ferry road, leading 
to the Tennessee River. We did not strike the enemy until we reached 
Sugar Creek, and here we found a brigade, posted in a strong position 
to delay the advance, until Wheeler's main force would be safely across 
the Tennessee. But we gave the brigade a surprise thej^^ were little 
expecting, for instead of fighting them at long range. Crook ordered a 
saber charge by his advance brigade, and Lieutenant Colonel Patrick, 
commanding the 5th Iowa Cavalry, lead a most gallant charge with his 
regiment, killing ten, wounding nine, and capturing upward to seventy 
prisoners, utterly scattering and demoralizing the whole brigade. From 
that time on it was simply a race for the river. For the last six or seven 
miles we were on the gallop and gathered up many stragglers whose 
horses had given out, many others of the enemy, who could not keep up 



17 

with the cokimn, fled to the woods and mountains. No further resist- 
ance was offered and when we reached the river we found the enemy 
had crossed at a Ford just above where Elk River enters the Tennessee. 
We went into camp at Rogersville, four miles from the Tennessee, on 
the evening of the 9th, after a continuous campaign in the saddle, 
marching and fighting since the morning of September 30th, or ten days 
in all, and had driven Wheeler's forces clear across the State of Tennes- 
see. Quoting from my Diary, I find the following entry on the evening 
of the 9th. "We hope to get a few days much needed rest, as both, 
horses and men are much jaded. Hundreds of campfires are burning 
to-night, the camp is ringing with shout and song, the boys all feeling 
happy over the success of the campaign." This was the hardest con- 
tinuous ten days' riding and fighting in which the 2d Cavalry Division 
participated during the war^ and the results w-ere of the most satis- 
factory. 

We had struck the Confederate Cavalry such a hard blow, 
under their most able and dashing leader, that Rosecrans in Chatta- 
nooga had no fears that his communication would be interrupted by 
another cavalry raid, and he felt secure. We remained in camp at 
Rogersville on the 10th, and on the 11th broke camp and marched by 
easy stages toward Chattanooga, reaching Paint Rock, Alabama, on 
the 19th, went into camp for a few days rest. 

SUMMING UP LOSSES AND RESULTS. 

The best evidence we have is from the reports of the different com- 
manders at the time. 

Crook stated in his report that his total loss, during the raid was, 
in killed and wounded, one hundred and eleven. Referring to the loss 
of the enemy, he stated that, "at the battle of Farmington the enemy left 
eighty-six of their dead and one hundred and thirty-seven wounded on 
the field^ while many of their wounded were taken up by citizens." He 
gives the total loss of the enemy during the raid at upward of two 
thousand in killed, wounded and prisoners, and some of the officers in 
their reports estimated the loss at from twenty-five hundred to three 
thousand. In closing his report he pays a high tribute to the bravery 
and endurance of the officers and men of his command, as follows : 
"Notwithstanding the severe hardships and fatigue, under which the 



18 

men suffered, having but three days' rations in twenty days, many of 
them nearly naked and several times exposed to cold drenching rain, 
yet they never complained, but were always cheerful and ready for 
duty." 

Extract from report of General R. B. Mitchell, commanding 1st 
Cavalry Corps, Decherd, Tenn.^ October 20, 1863: "I think the record 
of cavalry service, during the entire war, cannot show a more severe 
campaign than the one my command has just closed. There was 
scarcely an hour during the whole pursuit that the horses were unsad- 
dled ; for days and nights together the men were in their saddles, almost 
constantly on the march, and some days making as high as fifty-three 
and fifty-seven miles. Take again into consideration the fact that a 
greater part of the time the troops were out of rations, and our hasty 
movements giving them little or no time to forage on the country ; that 
the nights were cold, the men without overcoats ; I think the campaign 
challenges comparison with any service performed during the war. 
Yet, with all the severe duty and hardships necessarily devolving upon 
the men, they made not a murmur, but, on the contrary, seemed only 
anxious to do everything in their power to accomplish the object for 
which they had started, viz : to overtake, and, if possible, destroy the 
enemy's cavalry, and whenever we did succeed in reaching them, they 
proved that they were ready and competent to do this. 

"The troops in the command did all that is possible for troops to 
do to second the endeavors of their commanders, and when I thank 
them, as I do, for the fatigue and gallant fighting which they did, I do 
it in all earnestness and sincerity, realizing their labors and sufferings." 

General Mitchell gives the total losses in the 1st Cavalry Corps at 
120. Of this number 110 in Crook's Division, 9 in the 1st Division, and 
1 at headquarters. While the men of McCook's Division were just as 
anxious to get into fight as were Crook's men, yet they were not so for- 
tunate in finding the enemy. 

Extract from report of General D. S. Stanley, Chief of Cavalry : 

"At Farmington Crook captured five pieces of artillerv and 700 
prisoners, and the enemy's loss will amount to 2,000." "We have 
marched in six days 247 miles. We captured and burned $52,000 worth 
of cotton belonging to the Confederate States Army." 



19 



CONGRATULATORY ORDER OF MAJOR GENERAL WM. 
ROSECRANS, U. S. ARMY, COMMANDING DE- 
PARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND. 

"The brilliant pursuit of the enemy's cavalry under Wheeler, by 
the cavalry command of this army, especially Crook's Division and 
Stokes' Chicago Board of Trade Battery, which were foremost in the 
fight, deserve honorable mention. The general commanding thanks the 
cavalry, and particularly General Crook, with the officers and soldiers 
of his division, and of Stokes' battery, for their valuable services in this 
pursuit of the enemy, which resulted in driving him in confusion across 
the Tennessee River. He compliments them for inaugurating the new 
practice of coming to close quarters without delay." By command of 
Major-General Rosecrans, H. M. Cist, Lieutenant and Acting Assist- 
ant Adjutant General. 

Extract from report of General George H. Thomas: 

"This pursuit is unsurpassed for its energy and bravery and endur- 
ance of the officers and men engaged in it, and prevented the execution 
of an extensive plan of destruction of our communications, plunder, and 
murder throughout Middle Tennessee and Northern Alabama, in which 
Roddy and Lee were to co-operate with Wheeler." Wheeler had 
planned this raid on a grand scale and the results were no doubt very 
disappointing to him as well as to Bragg, the commander of the Con- 
federate Army. Had he succeeded in repelling Crook and establishing 
his command on the railroad between Murfreesboro and Nashville, 
destroying the bridges and road between those points as well as toward 
Chattanooga, Rosecrans' army would have been in a critical situation. 
But in this he failed as he found, in Crook and Long, both Indian fight- 
ers of the Regular Army, "foemen worthy of his steel," and they foiled 
him at every move on the board with persistent energy, dash and fight. 
Had he been confronted with commanders that could not have antici- 
pated his every plan and move, as did Crook, he might have succeeded, 
but Crook was master of the situation, and had the full confidence of 
his officers and men, and at Farmington, with less than half the men 
that Wheeler had in his command, swept him from the field. 

All that Wheeler had to offset his great loss in men, was the de- 
struction of a few hundred wagons, some government supplies, a few 



20 

small railroad bridges, which interrupted communication but for a few 
days, and did not disturb our army in the least. 

Roddy crossed the Tennessee, and all the damage that he did, was 
to fill up a tunnel near New Market. General Mitchell, having received 
infonnation of this movement, made a rapid march from Huntsville 
and struck Roddy's command on the evening of the 12th of October, 
and after a sharp fight, in a heavy rain stonrij darkness coming on^ 
Roddy succeeded in crossing the Tennessee. General Wheeler censured 
his subordinate commanders severely for the lack of discipline and co- 
operation to which he claimed his defeat was largely due. The story 
of the defeat, and demoralization of his command, is most graphically 
told by Col. Geo. B. Hodges, who commanded a Confederate brigade. 
He describes the running fight between Shelbyville and Farmington as 
follows in his report : 

"Within oO minutes a courier reached me from Colonel Clay, ask- 
ing for re-inforcements, being ordered by General Davidson to lead 
them and to take command of the rear in person. I countermarched 
with my brigade, and was proceeding at a gallop with my command, 
back, when, ahead of me, I encountered the whole of Scott's brigade, 
crowded in frightful and horrible confusion, wild and frantic with 
panic, choking the entire road and bearing down upon me at racing 
speed. It was too late to clear the way ; they rode over my command 
like madmen, some of them stopping only, as I am informed, when they 
reached the Tennessee. I was ridden over and my horse knocked down, 
but succeeded in extricating myself, and Captain Larmer's Company, 
27th Va. Battery, which I threw into position behind a fence running 
at right angles with the road, and opened upon the enemy, who were 
fiercely charging the rear of the panic-stricken crowd. This company 
unhorsed and killed some 30 of the enemy who were in the leading files 
of the charging column, but was itself badly cut up, and its gallant cap- 
tain sabered out of his saddle. The enemy were momentarily checked. 
I seized the opportunity to gallop ahead of the fugitives and extricate 
my own brigade from the disorderly mob ; this I formed line with, and 
in some order received the now advancing enemy. He came on in 
heavy force and with determined obstinacy. General Davidson sent 
me word he was endeavoring to form a fresh line with Scott's brigade, 
to support, and instructed me to use my own discretion in the rear. The 
enemy, finding himself determinedly resisted, brought up three pieces 



21 

of artillery and commenced shelling my line. I could only reply with 
two mountain howitzers, and was compelled to fall back, forming fresh 
lines at intervals of about a quarter of a mile. Each of these he desper- 
ately charged, and upon being repulsed, commenced extending his 
flanks, which his numerical superiority enabled him to do, compelling 
me to form fresh lines in the rear and withdraw those he was envel- 
oping. 

For five hours and a half, over seven miles of country, the unequal 
contest continued. My gallant brigade was cut to pieces and slaugh- 
tered. I had informed the officers and men that the sacrifice of their 
lives was necessary, and they manfully made the sacrifice. 

General Davidson could do nothing with the fugitives.. I received 
no support, and at three o'clock, when with my bleeding and almost 
annihilated command I had formed my last line, the welcome order 
came from General Wheeler to fall back, as he was in position a quar- 
ter of a mile in rear with reinforcements. I passed at four o'clock 
through his lines into Farmington, but only to resume the retreat, 
when, at 5, the division he had placed in position was charged and 
broken by the enemy. Though much of my brigade, with its cannon, 
reached and crossed the Tennessee River at Muscle Shoals on October 
9, one-third of my brigade had been destroyed. I have lost many of my 
best, gallant and efficient officers." 



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